Contact Info
Little Forest Playschool
3880 Villa Street
Los Alamos, NM 87544
Phone: 505-662-5895
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Hours of Operation
7:30am - 5:30pm Mon - FriAbout Us
Little Forest Playschool is a cooperatively-managed preschool for children aged 2-5, located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Since our founding in 1951, we have given children the opportunity to learn the same way they do naturally: through exploration and play. Little Forest alumni have moved on to become Science Fair winners, class valedictorians, artists, teachers, scientists, and community leaders.
Playschool is a developmentally oriented preschool. Our goal is to provide activities and experiences that will meet the needs of individual children in different developmental stages: children with a wide variation in ages, abilities, and behaviors. We believe that play is the primary and most meaningful medium of learning for children of preschool age. It is open-ended, self-directed, and flexible. It encourages children to interact with others, to think symbolically, and to generate their own solutions. Through play children grow and come to terms with the realities of life.
We encourage the development of self-esteem, independence, curiosity, creativity, and competency through meaningful and enjoyable hands-on activities, and through positive interactions with peers and adults. Our classes offer opportunities for children to develop and enhance their social, physical, and intellectual skills in an environment that is accepting and open. In our programs we emphasize learning by doing, and we believe that the process is more important than the product.
We stress respect for the rights of others, and we work toward the children’s internalization of control; that is, toward their ability to govern themselves and to construct for themselves the conviction that it is best for people to deal honestly and responsibly with each other. To promote this autonomy we encourage decision making and problem solving, and help the children to understand the logical and natural consequences of their actions. We feel that all discipline should be carried out with respect for the dignity and self-esteem of all those involved.